Apparatus for the production of heat and cold



Jam. T1,. 1939. H. A. MUSHAM APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HEAT AND COLD Filed March 31, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l m .J 3* 1 x huh-.0. a

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QT'T'ORNEY Patented Jan. 17, 1939 PATENT OFFICE ArrXaATUs ron THE PRODUCTION or HEAT am) com Harry A. Musham, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 31, 1936, Serial No. 71,988

4 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) pose of transferring heat from one substance to another at maximum thermal efficiency.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for producing heat by means of which the working substance is compressed to a predetermined temperature and pressure, cooled at constant pressure and then expanded to its initial pressure thus giving to the working substance the capacity for transferring heat.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanical apparatus wherein a compressor, an expander and heat and cold interchangers situated therebetween are combined so as to provide in a single unit, means for refrigeration, heating and for cooling confined spaces.

The instant invention comprises a compact unit for the production of heat and cold wherein a charge of air after compression is discharged into a primary intake chamber mounted upon the upper end of the compressor and then transferred at constant pressure to a primary dis charge chamber through a heat interchanger located between the chambers, the heat of compression being extracted from the charge during its passage through the heat'interchanger, the extraction being effected by a current of air flowing through the heat interchanger. The cooled air collecting in the primary discharge chamber is periodically injected into an expander underlying the discharge chamber. After expansion the charge is delivered to a secondary intake chamber from which it is transferred at constant pressure to a secondary discharge chamber through a heat interchanger situated between the chambers immediately adjacent the first mentioned interchanger, the cold air passing through the interchanger being employed to extract heat from the current of air flowing through the interchanger. The air collecting within the secondary discharge chamber is periodically returned to the compressor and the cycle just described repeated.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which corresponding parts are indicated by similar reference characters:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the assembly, partly in section, illustrating its practical application to heating and cooling the interior of a building and for cooking and refrigeration;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section partly in elevation taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Coming now to the description of the apparatus forming the subject matter of the instant application and referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, I indicates a foundation, 2 a primemover, 3 a compressor, 4 the heat interchanger and 5 the expander, all of which are suitably mounted upon the foundation i.v Compressor 3 includes a crank case 6, cylinder 1 and a constant pressure chamber 8 surmounting the cylinder. Expander 5 consists of a crank case 6, a cylinder I and a constant pressure chamber 8 surmounting the engine cylinder. Pistons 9 and 8' operating in cylinders l and l of the compressor and expander respectively, are connected to'a common crank shaft ill, by connecting rods H and H, the crank shaft in being operatively connected with the prime-mover 2 through a coupling I2.

Cylinder I of the compressor is formed adjacent its head with an intake port l3 controlled by a slide valve it having a port l5. Valve I 4, is operated by a cam 15 positioned on crank shaft l0 and adapted to be engaged by the lower end of a follower 16, the upper end of which is connected to slide valve i4. As the cam rotates the follower is lifted against the action of spring 11 to reciprocate the valve as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. To permit the working substance after compression to pass from the compressor to the constant pressure chamber 8, the head of cylinder I is formed with a port l6 controlled by a valve I6, which is operated by rocker arm 18, follower I9 and cam positioned on crank shaft iii. The free end of rocker arm 18 engaging the upper end of the stem of valve l6 depresses the stem against the action of spring 8! and unseats the valve, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The cylinder 1 of expander 5 is formed adjacent its head with the ports I! and I8, which are controlled by slide valves l9 and 20, the former having therein an opening 2 i, the latter an opening 22. Both of'these valves may be controlled from the crank shaft or other moving parts by a suitable mechanism.

Pressure chamber 8' communicates with cylinder. 1 through port l8 controlled by a valve H as clearlyshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Valve I1 is operated by a rocker arm 82 and a follower It, the latter having one end engaging said rocker arm and its opposite end contacting with cam ll 55 on crank shaft Hi. The free end of rocker arm 82 engaging the stem of valve depresses said stem against the action of spring and unseats the valve. The constant pressure chambers 8 and 8' of compressor 3, and expander 5, through inflow and release conduits 23'and 23' are in communication with cook stove 24, the conduits being controlled by valves 25. Pressure chamber 8 is also provided with a spring press'edsafety valve 26. The pressure chamber 8' is equipped with a pressure regulator consisting of sleeve 21, the lower end of which communicates with the interior of the cold chamber 8'. A piston 28 operates in sleeve 21 and is connected to a counterweighted arm 29. With this arrangement the pressure within the cold chamber may be regulated by shifting the counterweight to any desired position on the arm 29, as will be understood without further discussion.

The heat interchanger 4 which is situated between the constant pressure chambers 8 and 8' respectively, consists of a suitable casing 30 having therein horizontally disposed tubes 3|, .which serve to establish communication between the two chambers 8 and 8, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Within thecasing 30 there are arranged a series of baiiie plates 32, so that air entering in the opening 33 in the bottom of the casing 30 will take a circuitous course over the tubes 3| to outlet 34, through which it is adapted to flow into the hot air dome 35, formed in the upper portion of the casing 30. Air dome 35 communicates with distributing conduits 36 and 31, through leads 38 and 39 controlled by valves 33' and 39. Opening. 33 in the bottom of the heat interchanger 4 is connected with a suitable blower 4B. The air from the blower passes over the tubes in a direction opposite to the flow of the working substance through the tubes, thus imparting to the air entering the air dome 35, a temperature approximating the compression tem perature of the compressed working substance in the hot pressure chamber 8'. The tubes in the interchanger 4 are slightly tapered from the ends communicating with the hot pressure chamber 8 to those opening into the cold pressure chamber 3'. This construction has been found to facilitate the maintenance of constant pressure during the heat extraction period.

Adjacent to the pressure chamber 8 on the upper end of the compressor 3 is a cold air compartment 4|, the interior of which communicates through conduit 42 and port I5 of slide valve 4 with the intake port l3 of compressor 3. Likewise adjacent the cold pressure chamber 8 of the expander 5 is another cold chamber 43. Between chambers and 43 there is arranged an interchanger 4 corresponding in detail to the interchanger 4, that is to say, it consists of a casing 44 having an air dome 44 in its upper portion, a series of horizontally disposed transfer tubes 46 passing through the central portion of the easing and communicating at their respective extremities with chambers 4| and 43. This interchanger, like that previously described, is also provided with a series of baiile plates positioned to form a circuitous path over the transfer tubes 46 whereby air entering the casing through a suitable opening in its bottom, after passing over the tubes in the direction opposite the flow of the working substance, enters the air dome 44' in the upper portion of the casing 44 from which it is conducted through conduits 45 or 41 to distributing leads 36 or 31, as clearly shown in Figure l of the drawings. A fan, (not shown) mounted on the shaft of blower 40 functions to direct air through the passage 46 leading from the blower to the opening in the bottom of the casing 44 and through the latter to the transfer tubes as hereinabove stated. Chamber 43 communicates with cylinder 1' of expander 5 via conduit 43 and port 2| in slide valve i9. Slide valve I3 is operated by a cam follower 86, one end of which is attached to the slide valve. The other end of follower 86 engages cam 81 on crank shaft l0, so that rotation of the cam lifts follower 86 against the action of the spring 88 and reciprocates the valve as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

A part of the working substance after expansion may be taken from the top of expander 6 for refrigerating purposes, and to accomplish this end exhaust port l8 of cylinder 1' is connected with a refrigerator 56, via port 22 of slide valve 20 and pipes 51 and 58 communicating with the interior of the refrigerator. The cold air after circulation through the refrigerator is conducted to the outside via conduits 53 and 60. Slide valve 20 is controlled by a cam follower 83, one end of which is attached to the valve. The other end of follower 89 engages cam on crank shaft I0, so that rotation of the cam lifts follower 88 against the action of spring 8| and reciprocates the valve, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

A hot water coil 54 may be placed within the constant pressure chamber 8 for the purpose of heating a supply of water for reservoir 55, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In this connection it is to be understood that such auxiliaries as the hot water coil, the'stove and the refrigerator, form no part of the instant invention and are disclosed merely to illustrate the various usages to which the instant apparatus may be placed.

Under some conditions it may be desirable to dissipate the air collectingin air domes 35 and 44 of the interchangers 4 and 4' and to accomplish this conduits 39 and 4! are provided to establish communication between said air domes and the exhaust pipe 37, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Normally the valves of conduits 39 and 41 respectively, are closed. When occasion demands these valves may be opened and the air thus allowed to pass to the pipe 31. In order to enable the system to be charged with further air whenever desirable, the cold pressure chamber 4| is equipped with a manually controlled air inlet 62, the valve of which is normally maintained in closed position.

Having described the structural details of one embodiment of this invention, its operation will be seen to be as follows:

A charge of the working substance is compressed to the desired temperature and pressure by the compressor 3. At the point of maximum compression this charge is admitted (by a valve I6) to the constant pressure chamber 8 from which it is transferred at constant pressure through the tubes 3| of the interchanger 4 to the chamber8.

Meanwhile, a blast of air, produced by blower 40 passes circuitously over the tubes of the interchanger, abstracts their heat and enters dome 35 from which it is distributed via conduits 38 and 36 to the space to be heated.

When the piston 9' of expander 5 reaches the top of its stroke, valve l1 opens and the working substance having lost in chamber 8', the greater portion of its heat at constant pressure, is permitted to enter cylinder 1' of the expander 5, wherein it is expanded and then exhausted amasos through conduit 48 to cold chamber 43. From chamber 4! the working substance passes at constant pressure through the tubes 48 of iiit'erchanger l' to cold chamber 4i, and thence through conduit 42 to compressor 3. During the transfer of the expanded working substance from chamber 43 to chamber ll a blast of air passing over the tubes in a circuitous path is lowered in temperature and collects in dome 44' from which it may be distributed to pipe 38 via conduit 45.

In conclusion it will be seen this invention provides a comparatively inexpensive apparatus for effecting maximum recovery of theenergy expanded in the'treatment of the working substance, the limit of expansion in each stage being determined by the critical temperature of the working substance.

Although in the foregoing certain elements have been described as best adapted to perform the functions allotted to them, nevertheless it is to be understood that various minor changes, such as operating the apparatus on an open instead of a closed heat cycle, may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for effecting a transfer of heat from one substance to another including in combination a compressor, and an expander arranged in iuxta-relation, each including vertically disposed cylinders, an intake pressure chamber disposed upon the upper end of the compression cylinder, valve controlled means for introducing the charge of the compressor at maximum compression directly into the intake pressure chamber, a discharge pressure chamber situatcd upon the upper end of the expander cylinder, pressure regulating means in connection with the respective chambers, a series of heat transfer elements interconnecting said chambers, valve-controlled means for periodicaly exhausting a portion of the contents of the discharge chamber directly into said expander, means for transferring the contents of the expander toythe compressor and means directing a current of air over said transfer elements to abstract the heat of compression and additional means for collecting and distributing the air passing over said elements.

2. An apparatus for effecting the transfer of heat from one substance to another, comprising in combination a compressor and an expander arranged in juxta-relation, 'each including a vertically disposed cylinder, an intake pressure chamber situated upon the upper end of the compressor cylinder, valve controlled means for introducing the contents of the compressor at maximum compression directly into the intake pressure chamber, a discharge pressure chamber situated upon the upper end of the expander cylinder, pressure regulating means in connection with the respective chambers, a heat interchanger situated between and interconnecting the intake and discharge chambers, said interchanger including a series of horizontally disposed heat transfer elements communicating at their extremities with said chambers, a casing inclosing the heat transfer elements and having an air collecting dome, blast producing means communicating with said casing, additional means within said casing for directing a blast of air in a circuitous path overthe heat transfer elements and into said collecting dome, valvecontrolled means for periodically discharging a portion of the contents of the discharge chamher into said expander and means for returning the expanded air from the expander to the compressor.

3. An apparatus for effecting a. transfer of heat from one substance to another comprising in combination a pressure and an expander arranged in juxta-relation, an intake pressure chamber situated upon the upper end of the compressor cylinder, valve-controlled means for introducing the contents of the compressor at maximum compression directly into the intake pressure chamber, a discharge pressure chamber positioned upon the upper end of the expander cylinder, pressure regulating means in connection with the respective chambers, a heat interchanger situated between and interconnecting the intake and discharge chambers, said interchanger including a series of horizontally disposed heat transfer elements communicating .at their ex-.

tremities with said chamber and a casing enclosing said heat transfer elements, blast producing means communicating with the casing, means within the casing to direct the blast of air over the transfer elements and into the collecting dome, means for periodically discharging a portion of the contents of the discharge pressure chamber into said expander, and means for returning the expanded air from the expander to the compressor.

4. An apparatus for effecting a transfer of heat from one substance to another, comprising in combination a compressor and an expander arranged in juxta-relation, an intake pressure chamber situated upon the upper end of the pressure cylinder, valve controlled means for introducing the contents of the compressor at maxmum compression directly into the compression chamber, a discharge-pressure chamber mounted on the upper end of the expander, pressure regulating means in connection with the respective chambers, a heat interchanger situated between and interconnecting the intake and discharge chambers and including a series of horizontally disposed heat transfer elements communicating at their extremities with said chambers, a casing inclosing the heat transfer elements and having an air collecting dome, said dome being provided with valve-controlled distributing outlets, blast producing means in communication with said casing, additional means within said casing for directing the blast oi air in a circuitous path over the heat transfer elements and into said collecting dome, valve-controlled means for periodically discharging a portion of the contents of the discharge chamber into said expander and means for returning the expanded air from the expander to the compressor, said means including auxiliary intake and discharge pressure chambers, and an auxiliary heat interchanger situated between and interconnecting the chambers, the auxiliary interchanger and pressure chambers being disposed immediately adjacent the first mentioned chambers and interchanger.

HARRY A. MUSKAM. 

